40CT cannon explained

40CTC
Origin: France
United Kingdom
Type:Cased telescoped autocannon
Is Ranged:Yes
Service:2022–present
Designer:CTA International
Design Date:1997 onwards
Manufacturer:CTA International
Weight:340kg (750lb)
Length:3428mm
Part Length:2800mm
Cartridge:40×255 mm
Caliber:40 mm
Action:Recoil-operated, rotating breech
Rate:200 rpm
Range:2500m (8,200feet) (4000m (13,000feet) for RapidFire)
Max Range:8,500 m[1]
Feed:Automatic Ammunition Handling System (AHS)

The 40CTC (40 mm Cased Telescoped Cannon) is a 40 mm autocannon and the central component of the Franco-British 40CTAS (40 mm Cased Telescoped Armament System) developed by CTA International. It is designed to fire 40mm telescoped ammunition.[2] This format provides significant benefit within vehicles in the space envelope required for the gun and the ammunition storage.[3] However, the selection of the unfielded, thus unproven, new design for major French and British programmes was controversial.[4] [5]

The 40CTAS has been ordered by the French Army for use on its future EBRC Jaguar armoured reconnaissance vehicle. The latter entered service in February 2022. It has also been mandated for the UK Ajax (formerly FRES SV) and (cancelled) Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme (WCSP) programmes.

In February 2010, CTA International signed a £11m contract with the French and British defence ministries to qualify the 40CT; this included environmental testing and the firing of 15,000 rounds.[6] The company has confirmed that the ammunition for the British weapons will be assembled by BAE Systems at the ROF Glascoed facility.[7]

Design

The 40CTAS consists of the following modules:

Variants

Nexter/Thales Naval RapidFire

The Naval RapidFire is a naval platform based on the 40CTC. Intended as close-in defense capability for surface vessels against air and land threats, it can fire the A3B round.[8] The RapidFire was selected for integration on the 4 Bâtiment ravitailleur de forces (BRF) of the French Navy as well as the upcoming class of 10 Patrouilleurs Hauturiers (PH) offshore patrol vessels. The first system was installed on the lead ship of the BRF, FS Jacques Chevallier, in February 2023.[9]

Nexter/Thales Land RapidFire

It is the land-based variant of the RapidFire and is meant for integration on military vehicles.[8] The turret can store between 70 and 120 rounds, with additional rounds stored in the turret structure's compartment. Rate of fire is 200 rpm with a range against aerial and surface targets of 4,000 m and 2,500 m respectively. The truck-based RapidFire can be mounted on a 6×6 and 8×8 chassis, the latter of which is able to de-mount the system onto the ground for it to operate independently.[10] [11]

Ammunition

The 40CTAS's proprietary 40mm telescoped ammunition is manufactured for various applications, including anti-infantry and anti-materiel. The variants differ in weight, effective range, and payload depending on the intended target.

TypeProjectile weight (g)Muzzle velocity (m/s)PenetrationEffective range (m)TargetsNotes
APFSDS-T
Armour Piercing Fin Stabilised Discarding Sabot - Tracer		550[12] 1,500140 mm RHA at 1,500 m2,500Medium armoured vehicles
GPR-T
General Purpose Round - Tracer		9801,000210 mm concrete or 15mm RHA at 1,000 m<8,500Infantry, light armoured vehicles, defensive fortificationsAvailable as point detonating (GPE-PD-T) or airburst munition (GPE-AB-T)
A3B-T
Anti Aerial Airburst - Tracer		1,400900-4,000Unmanned aerial vehicles, light aircraft, helicopters
TP-T
Target Practice - Tracer		9801,000-8,500-
TPRR-T
Target Practice Reduced Range - Tracer		7301,000-6,500-Reduced range variant of TP-T

Users

Current operators

France (300 + 8)
  • The French Army plans to order a total of 300 EBRC Jaguar, 150 have been ordered at the moment:[13] [14]

    The French Navy is using the cannon on one ship family, and is planning to order other ones:

    United Kingdom (245)
  • The British Army ordered 245 Ajax equipped with the 40CTC.[20]

    Future operators

    Belgium (60)
  • The Belgian Land Component ordered 60 EBRC Jaguar in 2018 as part of the CaMo cooperation with the French Army. It will succeed to the Piranha III DF30 & DF90.[21]
    France (7 + 3 in option)
  • The French Navy ordered 7 OPV and plans to order 3 additional ones, each to be equipped with one RAPIDFire.[22]

    Potential operators

    France
  • Several French Army programmes might lead to the introduction of the 40CTC cannon within the forces beyond the EBRC Jaguar:
    Greece (200)
  • KNDS and Hellenic Defence Systems partnered in 2022 to offer the VBCI Philoctetes to the Hellenic Army.[25] In 2024, more details regarding the potential sale of VBCI were revealed:[26]
    Kuwait
  • KNDS and the UK is offering the ARTEC Boxer to the Kuwait Army and the 40CTC with the T40 turret is being offered as a potential weapon.[27]
    Luxembourg (38)
  • The Luxembourg Army plans to order 38 EBRC Jaguar.[28]
    Qatar
  • KNDS and the UK is offering the ARTEC Boxer to the Qatar Army equipped with the T40 (turret with 40CTC cannon).[29]
  • KNDS France also proposed the VBCI-2 equipped with the T40 turret to Qatar.[30] In April 2024, discussions for a first batch of 120 VBCI-2 were ongoing.[26]

    Cancelled orders

    United Kingdom
  • The British Army cancelled the modernisation of the Warrior in 2021. A surplus worth £70 million of 40CTC cannons was revealed by the UK MoD following this cancellation.[31] A total of 515 cannon had been ordered by the MoD in 2015. The consequence is that some of those cannons were available for sale, or for other programme. It is unknown whether these were used to supply Belgian and Luxembourg EBRC, or if the MoD kept them for future potential programmes.

    Lost bids

    Australia
  • The Australian Army opened a tender process in the Land 400 Phase 2 programme. Nexter offered the VBCI-2 equipped with the T40 turret and 40CTC cannon. The Australian Army shortlisted two of its competitors, the Boxer equipped with the LANCE 30 turret and the Patria AMV equipped with the BAE E35 turret.[32] The Boxer won the programme, 133 in the CRV variant equipped with a LANCE 30 turret using the cannon.[33]
    Bulgaria
  • Nexter pitched the VBCI-2 with the T40 turret and the Nexter Titus as future vehicles for the Bulgarian Army in 2019.[34] The Stryker won the competition and a contract was signed in 2024. The IFV variant is the M1296 Dragoon which is equipped with the ATK Orbital MK.44S Bushmaster II cannon.[35]
    Lithuania
  • In 2015, Nexter offered the VBCI-2 with the T40 turret or the Leonardo Hitfist to the Lithuanian Army.[36] The Boxer won the competition in 2016 with the sale of 91 "Vilkas" equped with the Samson Mk II RCT turret using the ATK Orbital MK.44S Bushmaster II cannon. [37] [38]
    Spain
  • In 2015, Nexter offered the VBCI-2 with the T40 turret for the new infantry fighting vehicle of the Spanish Army.[39] The Piranha V won the tender process and it is equipped with the Guardian 30 turret with the ATK Orbital MK.44S Bushmaster II cannon.[40]

    References

    1. https://www.cta-international.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/BrochureA5v2018Sept_planches_interactive.pdf "40 CTAS Brochure A5 Sept 2018.pdf"
    2. Web site: NEXTER Group - CTA International achieves Anglo-French qualification for the 40mm Cased Telescoped Cannon and Ammunition. . https://web.archive.org/web/20190528045755/https://www.nexter-group.fr/en/press/656-cta-international-acheve-la-qualification-franco-britannique-du-canon-de-40ct-et-de-ses-munitions-telescopees . 28 May 2019 . dead .
    3. http://www.deagel.com/Guns-Riffles-and-Grenade-Launchers/CTWS_a001570001.aspx "CTWS" - Deagel
    4. Web site: The 40mm Cased Telescoped Armament System (CTAS). 8 December 2015.
    5. Web site: New 40mm cannon system handed over to British Army.
    6. http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/WCSP-Britains-Warriors-to-Undergo-Mid-Life-Upgrade-05967/ "WCSP: Britain’s Warriors to Undergo Mid-Life Upgrade" - Defense Industry Daily
    7. Web site: DefenceNews France, U.K. To Qualify New Cannon . 12 November 2019 . 12 November 2019 . http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20191112041419/https://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i%3D4012428 . live .
    8. Web site: RapidFire . Thales Group. 3 February 2024 .
    9. Web site: Le nouveau canon RAPIDFire Naval embarque sur un premier bâtiment de la Marine nationale . Mer et Marine . Groizeleau . Vincent . fr . 1 March 2023 . 1 March 2023 . subscription.
    10. Web site: 20 June 2024. Eurosatory 2024: KNDS Group unveils updated truck-based RAPIDFire. Janes Information Services. https://web.archive.org/web/20240620183815/https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/land/eurosatory-2024-knds-group-unveils-updated-truck-based-rapidfire. 20 June 2024. live.
    11. https://armyrecognition.com/news/army-news/army-news-2024/eurosatory-2024-knds-presents-rapidfire-defense-system Eurosatory 2024: KNDS Presents RAPIDFire Defense System
    12. https://www.cta-international.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/BrochureA5v2018Sept_planches_interactive.pdf "40 CTAS Brochure A5 Sept 2018.pdf"
    13. https://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/dyn/16/textes/l16b1517_texte-adopte-commission.pdf
    14. Web site: Lagneau . Laurent . 2022-05-10 . Les commandes de 302 Griffon, de 88 Jaguar et de 54 MEPAC ont été notifiées par la Direction générale de l'armement . 2024-06-26 . Zone Militaire . fr-FR.
    15. 2017-04-25 . Les premiers blindés Griffon et Jaguar commandés pour le programme Scorpion . L'Usine Nouvelle . fr. Nouvelle. L'Usine.
    16. Web site: Scorpion : Commande des premiers véhicules blindés VBMR et EBRC . 2024-06-26 . archives.defense.gouv.fr.
    17. Web site: Programme Scorpion: le ministère des Armées commande 313 véhicules blindés . 2024-06-26 . BFM BUSINESS . fr.
    18. https://archives.defense.gouv.fr/content/download/584376/9948304/Batiments%20ravitailleurs%20de%20force%20.pdf
    19. Web site: 2020-02-06 . Un nouveau canon de 40 mm pour la marine française Mer et Marine . 2024-06-26 . www.meretmarine.com . fr.
    20. Web site: COMBAT VEHICLES AJAX .
    21. Web site: Valpolini . Paolo . 2018-10-26 . Nexter will equip the Belgian Land component with VBMR-GRIFFON and EBRC-JAGUAR . 2024-06-26 . EDR Magazine . en-GB.
    22. Web site: 2023-11-24 . Marine nationale : gros plan sur les futurs patrouilleurs hauturiers (PH) Mer et Marine . 2024-06-26 . www.meretmarine.com . fr.
    23. Web site: 2024-03-05 . 370 VBCI Philoctete and used from Nexter for Greece? . 2024-06-26 . meta-defense.fr . en.
    24. Web site: Lagneau . Laurent . 2023-02-15 . Un rapport parle de renforcer la capacité de lutte anti-aérienne de l'armée de Terre avec le canon RapidFire . 2024-06-26 . Zone Militaire . fr-FR.
    25. Web site: 2022-04-05 . Nexter and Hellenic Defence Systems partner to offer VBCI-2 to Greece . 2024-06-26 . Default . en.
    26. Web site: 2024-04-24 . Le Qatar pourrait acheter 120 véhicules blindés VBCI fabriqués par KNDS France . 2024-06-26 . La Tribune . fr.
    27. Web site: KNDS targets 40 CTA turret for export market Shephard . 2024-06-26 . www.shephardmedia.com . en.
    28. Web site: Lagneau . Laurent . 2024-05-09 . Le Luxembourg va commander 38 blindés de reconnaissance et de combat Jaguar et quelques Griffon . 2024-05-10 . Zone Militaire . fr-FR.
    29. Web site: KNDS targets 40 CTA turret for export market Shephard . 2024-06-26 . www.shephardmedia.com . en.
    30. Web site: Manuel . Rojoef . 2024-03-06 . Nexter Offers Latest VBCI Infantry Fighting Vehicle to Qatar . 2024-06-26 . The Defense Post . en-us.
    31. Web site: 2021-04-21 . UK Warrior upgrade cancellation makes sale of CT40 cannons likely . 2024-06-26 . Default . en.
    32. Web site: Eshel . Tamir . 2016-07-28 . Australia Shortlists Boxer, AMV-35 for Future Combat Recce Vehicle - Defense Update . 2024-06-26 . en-US.
    33. Web site: 2024-04-11 . Rheinmetall wins contract for 123 Boxer Heavy Weapon Carrier Vehicles . 2024-06-26 . Defense Here . en-US.
    34. Web site: admin . 2019-01-16 . Nexter System pitching Titus and VBCI 2 T40 wheeled armoured vehicles in Bulgaria - MilitaryLeak.COM . 2024-06-26 . militaryleak.com . en-us.
    35. Web site: 2024-06-13 . HEMUS 2024: Terem Holding to partially assemble Strykers in Bulgaria . 2024-06-26 . Default . en.
    36. Web site: Gain . Nathan . 2015-12-04 . Nexter promeut son VBCI-2 en Lituanie . 2024-06-26 . FOB - Forces Operations Blog . fr-FR.
    37. Web site: Lithuania receives first Boxer armoured vehicles . 2023-09-30 . Janes.com . 3 July 2019 . en.
    38. Web site: Oryx . Leader Of The Pack: Lithuania's Vilkas IFVs . 2023-09-30 . Oryx.
    39. Web site: InfoDefensa . Revista Defensa . Nexter presenta su nueva versión de exportación del blindado 8x8 VBCI . 2024-06-26 . Infodefensa - Noticias de defensa, industria, seguridad, armamento, ejércitos y tecnología de la defensa . es.
    40. Web site: Editorial . Defense Brief . 2021-12-19 . Spain's 8x8 Dragon VCR combat vehicle program enters construction phase . 2024-06-26 . Defense Brief . en-US.

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